Bathtub seat structure



Feb. 23, 1954 F, 0551 BATHTUB SEAT STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 14, 1952 Feb. 23, 1954 1 9551 BATHTUB SEAT STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 14, 1952 Feb. 23, 1954 F. ROSSI BATHTUB SEAT STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 14, 1952 I I I l l I I I I I l I l I l l I l l I l I l l l I l I I l I I I I Fried R0331 Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 2,670,029 BATHTUB SEAT STRUCTURE Fred Rossi, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application November 14, 1952, Serial No; 320,414

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to bath tub seat structures, and more particularly to a structure adapted for permanent installation in association with a'wall immediately adjacent to a bath tub and having provision for retraction of the seat within the wall so that it is outof-sight when not in use.

One object of the invention is to provide a bathtub seat which is operable with a minimum of effort on the part of the user, and which is completely out-of-sight when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to rovide a structure which is simple in construction and capableof manufacture and installation at reasonable cost.

'A further object of the invention is to provide aunitary structure which may be installed either during construction of a dwelling Or in an existing bathroom.

'Still another object of the invention is to provide a bathroom fixture of attractive appearance.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in'a single fixture, both a retractible seat and a wall recessed soap receptacle.

Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawing's, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the installed fixture in association with a bath tub and an adjacent wall, showing the bath tub seat in use, a portion of the bath tub being broken away for the sake of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the fixture when not in use;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the bath tub which is preferably constructed or modified as illustrated;

Fig. 4 is a relatively large-scale sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig 5 is a face view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4 with the cover open;

Fig.6 is a side elevational view of the seat in the position of use, with a portion of the seat broken away and seotionalized to show the strucu-re;

Fig. 7 is a View taken along line T-! of Fig. 6, looking upwardly at the underside of the seat:

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a portion of the seat, showing'the automatic actuation of the supporting leg in response to manual actuation of the telescopic seat -'structure'; I

Fig. 9 is'f'a sectional view taken on line 9- 9 of Fig. trans Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line Iii-I 0 of Fig. 6.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a bathroom installation incorporatin the fixture of the present invention. The bath tub is shown at l and the immediately adjacent wall in which the fixture is installed is shown at 2 The fixture provided by the present invention is designated generally by reference character 3, it being preferably of unitary form so that it may be inserted as a unit within the wall 2. As may be seen in Fig. 2, the lower part of the fixture 3 is disposed behind the bath tub I, the fixture resting on the usual wall plate l. In its preferred form, the fixture 3 comprises a casing or housing 5 which serves to house the mechanism and which has an opening ii within the accommodating wall opening. Within the upper part of the casing 5 there is provided a soap tray or receptacle 1 which is always accessible through the opening 6. A seat 8 is movably supported, in the manner hereinafter described, for movement between the position of use shown .in Fig. l and a position ofnonuse in which the seat is disposed within the housing 5 in the wall space behind the bath tub. The seat has a hinged leg 9 which is foldable against the bottom of the seat when the latter is moved to the position of non-use. A cover It is .movably mounted for movement between the open position shown in Fig. l, in which the cover recedes into the housing 5 Within the wall '2, and the closed position shown in Fig. 2 in which the, cover closes the lower part of opening 5 and conceals the upper part of the retracted seat.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and .5, on the opposite sides of the casing or housing 5 are similar supporting plates H which extend from the bottom of the housing upwardly therein. The upper portion of each plate H is formed as illustrated to project through the opening 6 and over the upper part of the bath tub I. The bath tub is recessed at l2 (see Fig. 3) and the recessed portion is provided with lips ll 3 to prevent splashing of water into the wall space occupied by the fixture.

, The reason for the recessed construction or modification of the bath tub is to accommodate the preferred form of the structure as illustrated. Each o'ffthe plates 5 i has a supporting and guiding recess or groove M which extends from the bottom of the housing 5 upwardly therein and over the top of the bath tub. These grooves serve to movably support the :seat 8, as hereinafter described. Each of the plates l-I also has "asmaller recess or groove 15 extending over *theupper portionof the plate and through the topen ing 6. These grooves serve to movably support the cover I 0, as hereinafter described. A small roller I6 is provided on each of the plates I I, and a rod I'I extends between the two plates. The purposes of these elements will appear presently.

Referring particularly to Figs. '7 to 10, the seat 8 is composed of two sections I8 and I9 which are telescopically related and are shaped in cross-section as shown in Fig. 9. The inner section I8 carries a transverse rod at one end on which flanged rollers 2| are mounted, and these rollers extend into the recesses or grooves I 4 of the plates I I and ride therein. At the same end of the seat member I8 are welded angle elements 22 which extend beneath the rod I! when the seat is in position for use, as shown in Fig. 6. The rod I1 and the associated angle elements 22 prevent the inner end of the seat from rising during use. 7

The leg 9 is of hollow tubular form, and its upper end is T-shaped to provide a transverse tubular portion 23. A rod or pin 24 extends freely through the tubular portion 23 and is fixedly supported by sleeves 25 and 26 which are welded to the underside .of the inner seat member I8. Pins 21 and 28 serve to lock the rod 24 to the sleeves 25 and 26. Thus, it will be seen that the leg 9 is hingedly supported by the rod 24. As may be seen in Fig. 7 at 29, the tubular portion 23 and the sleeve 26 are provided with shoulders which abut when the leg 9 is in the operative position shown in Fig. 6, the abutting shoulders serving to limit the outward movement of the leg.

The leg 9 is automatically actuated in response to movement of the outer seat member I9. To this end there is provided a rod 30 which is bent as illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8, and which is swivelly mounted on the underside of the inner seat member I8 by means of a bracket 3| welded to the seat member. The end 32 of rod 30 extends into a slot 33 of the leg 9 and rides therein during movement of the leg. The other end 34 of the rod 30 is associated with an apertured plate 35 carried by the outer seat member I9. When the seat is extended, as shown in Fig. 6, the leg 9 is in operative position, and the end 34 of rod 30 rests against the apertured plate 35 so that the rod 30 serves to brace the leg. When the outer seat member I 9 is moved inwardly, the apertured plate 35 actuates the rod 30 through its end 34 and moves the leg 9 toward its folded position, as shown in Fig. 8. Outward movement of seat member I 9 also causes outward movement of the leg 9 through the actuation of rod 30.

The outer seat member I9 is latched in its extreme positions by means of the latch device 36 shown particularly in Fig. 10. As may be seen in Fig. 7, the side flange of seat member I9- adjacent to the latch device is provided with spaced notches 31 and 38, while the associated flange of the inner seat member I8 is provided with a single notch 39. The latch device comprises a latch element 40 pivotally mounted on a pin 4| which is supported by a bracket 42 welded to the underside of the inner seat member I8. A spring 43 serves to urge the latch element 40 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 10, about its pivot 4|. The nose 44 of latch element 49 is thus urged into engagement with the associated flanges of the seat members I8 and I9. When the seat member I9 is in its extended position, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the nose 44 of the latch element 40 seats inthe notches 31 and 39 and locks the seat men;-

4 ber I9 with respect to the inner seat member I3. When it is desired to contract the seat, the latch element is moved momentarily to free the seat member I9 and the latter is moved inwardly until the latch element engages the notch 38.

Referring again to Fig. 4, as previously indicated the purpose of the grooves or recesses I5 in plates II is to movably support the cover I0. As may be seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the cover is composed of a series of sections 45 which are connected together by means of hinges 46. Each section 45 has a bracket 4'! at each side which carries a roller 48. The rollers 48 ride in the grooves I5, so that the cover is movable between the solid and broken line positions of Fig. 4.

The entire operation of the device may best be understood by reference to Fig. 4. When the seat is in its position of non-use, as shown by solid lines in Fig. 4, theleg 9 is folded substantially entirely within the confines of the seat. With the seat thus disposed, the cover It may be closed as shown in Fig. 2, and it will be noted that the projecting portions of plates II serve cooperatively with the cover It to completely enclose and conceal the upper part of the seat. When it is desired to use the seat, the user opens the cover It and then pulls the seat upwardly to the broken line position A. The rollers I6 help to guide the seat and prevent it from striking the cover Ill. The user then releases the latch 36 and pulls outwardly on the seat member I9 and, at the same time, moves the seat from position A to position B and thence to position C. During this movement of the seat the leg 9 is automatically actuated in the manner previously described, and when the seat member I9 is in its outermost position it is latched by the latch device 36.

After use of the seat, the user slightly raises the outer end, releases the latch 36 and then pushes the seat member I9 inwardly and, at the same time, moves the seat upwardly to positions B and A in Fig. 4. During this movement of the seat the leg 9 is automatically retracted against the underside of the seat, as previously described. The seat member I9 is latched in its innermost position by the latch device 36. tion A in Fig. 4, the user pushes the seat downward to the position of non-use within the wall. During the final movement of the seat, the rollers I6 prevent it from striking the cover It and also help to guide it to its final position. With the seat in its position of non-use, the cover I9 may be closed until such time as it is desired to again use the seat.

Preferably, the entire structure is made of metal parts. The casing 5, the telescopically associated seat members, the cover, and the soap tray may all be made of sheet metal which helps to minimize the cost.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but contemplates such modifications and other embodiments as may occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A retractible seat unit for use in conjunction with a bath tube immediately adjacent to a wall, comprising a hollow support structure adapted to be recessed in the wall behind the tub and having an opening at the top of the tub, a seat having two telescopically associated sections and a hinged leg foldable against the bottom of the seat, means operable by telescopic movement From the posiof one seat section relative to the other for moving said leg to its operative and inoperative positions, and means supporting said seat for movement from its position of use through said opening into said hollow structure behind the tub.

2. A retractible seat unit for use in conjunction with a bath tube immediately adjacent to a wall, comprising a hollow support structure adapted to be recessed in the wall behind the tub and having an opening at the top of the tub, a seat having two telescopically associated sections and a hinged leg foldable against the bottom of the seat, means operable by telescopic movement of one seat section relative to the other for moving said leg to its operative and inoperative positions, means for latching the seat sections in retracted and extended positions, and means supporting said seat for movement from its position of use through said opening into said hollow structure behind the tub.

3. A retractible seat unit for use in conjunction with a bath tub immediately adjacent to a wall, comprising a hollow support structure adapted to be recessed in the wall behind the tub and having an opening at the top of the tub, supporting guides at the opposite sides of said support structure extending from the bottom of said structure upward and through said opening, a seat having means at one end engaging said guides for movement of the seat from its position of use through said opening into the hollow support structure, a hinged leg on said seat foldable against the bottom thereof, other supporting guides at the opposite sides of said support structure extending from the upper part of said structure through said opening, and a cover having means engaging the last-mentioned guides for movement of the cover to open and closed positions.

4. A retractible seat unit for use in conjunction with a bath tub immediately adjacent to a wall, comprising a hollow support structure adapted to be recessed in the wall behind the tub and having an opening at the top of the tub, supporting guides at the opposite sides of said support structure extending from the bottom of said structure upward and through said opening, a seat having two telescopically associated sections and having means at one end engaging said guides for movement of the seat from its position of use through said opening into the hollow support structure, a hinged leg on said seat foldable against the bottom thereof, and means operable by telescopic movement of one seat section relative to the other for moving said leg to its operative and inoperative positions.

5. A retractible seat unit for use in conjunction with a bath tub immediately adjacent to a wall, comprising a hollow support structure adapted to be recessed in the wall behind the tub and having an opening at the top of the tub, supporting guides at the opposite sides of said support structure extending from the bottom of said structure upward and through said opening, a seat having two telescopically associated sections and having means at one end engaging said guides for movement of the seat from its position of use through said opening into the hollow support structure, a hinged leg on said seat foldable against the bottom thereof, means operable by telescopic movement of one seat section relative to the other for moving said leg to its operative and inoperative positions, and means for latching the seat sections in retracted and extended positions.

6. A retractible seat structure for use in conjunction with a bath tub immediately adjacent to a wall having space behind the tub and having an opening at the top of the tub, comprising supporting guide means extending from the bottom of said space upward and through said opening, a seat having two telescopically associated sections and having means at one end engaging said guide means for movement of the seat through said opening between a position of use in the tub and a position of non-use in the wall space behind the tub, a hinged leg on said seat foldable against the bottom thereof, means operable by telescopic movement of one seat section relative to the other for moving said leg to its operative and inoperative positions, and a cover operable to close said opening when said seat is in the latter position.

'7. A retractible seat structure for use in conjunction with a bath tub immediately adjacent to a wall having space behind the tub and having an opening at the top of the tub, comprising supporting guide means extending from the bottom of said space upward and through said opening, a seat having two telescopically associated sections and having means at one end engaging said guide means for movement of the seat through said opening between a position of use in the tub and a position of non-use in the Wall space behind the tub, a hinged leg on said seat foldable against the bottom thereof, means operable by telescopic movement of one seat section relative to the other for moving said leg to its operative and inoperative positions, means for latching the seat sections in retracted and extended positions, and a cover operable to close said opening when said seat is in the latter position.

FRED ROSSI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 885,364 McComb Apr. 21, 1908 960,594 Snyder June 7, 1910 1,902,319 Bloedel Mar. 21, 1933 2,330,627 Reynolds Sept. 18, 1943 

